This was the Gareth Barry transfer saga caught in 90 minutes. Both teams set their stalls out early and refused to budge. And while Liverpool always believed their superior class would tell they also did not sufficiently account for Villa's energy, doggedness and growing ambition. A draw in both contests – even Martin O'Neill concedes he can only count on Barry, a pale performer yesterday, "for the foreseeable future" – although Liverpool will certainly feel like the losers after Fernando Torres limped off with a damaged hamstring. With Steven Gerrard already sidelined after his groin operation, that will have sent a shudder through their ranks.

The expected loss of Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United has been slightly softened by Gareth Bale agreeing new terms at Tottenham. Bale's deal until 2012 is thought to have extended his original commitment by a year but crucially it is a fresh contract from the one signed before the start of last season when he arrived from Southampton. The 19-year-old Wales left-back impressed in his rookie campaign in the Premier League before picking up a foot injury in December against Birmingham that sidelined him for the rest of the campaign. He joins Michael Dawson and Jermaine Jenas among the young players to agree new deals this summer. Berbatov has trained in London again but the 27-year-old has been targeted by United and the Spurs coach Juande Ramos will continue his search for strikers when the transfer goes through. Spurs held an interest in the Russia international Andrei Arshavin earlier in the summer and the Zenit St Petersburg forward is keen for a move to White Hart Lane. Interest in Roman Pavlyuchenko, his international team-mate, has cooled. Ramos has also experimented in pre-season with Darren Bent as a lone striker. Ramos also wants a defender and there remains uncertainty whether a deal can be struck for Manchester City's Vedran Corluka.

Wayne Bridge has signed a new four-year deal at Chelsea with the club, which, significantly, is steadfastly denying there are any plans to offer striker Didier Drogba an improved contract, increasingly confident that Robinho may eventually join him at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa are confident that the United States goalkeeper Brad Guzan will soon be handed a work permit and become their second summer signing. Yesterday the saga over captain Gareth Barry's transfer took another turn with Villa's manager, Martin O'Neill, denying that the club were close to selling him to Liverpool.

Wayne Rooney is back in action and using his head. Manchester United launched their build-up to the defence of their Premier League title with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Aberdeen, Rooney winning a penalty for the opening goal and nodding in the second himself.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez made a bold declaration of intent to pursue Tottenham's Robbie Keane yesterday, in a move which Spurs may feel was designed to send a message to the childhood Liverpool fan. "We were in contact and we will see now," Benitez said. "Keane is clearly a player that has game intelligence. We are looking for players who can fit into our systems."

Gareth Barry is set to finally secure his £18m move from Aston Villa to Liverpool in the next few days after the two clubs re-opened negotiations yesterday. The impasse was broken following a letter submitted to Liverpool by Villa manager Martin O'Neill outlining how he wants the deal to be structured.

Chelsea yesterday responded angrily to suggestions they had derailed Portugal's efforts at Euro 2008 by announcing Luiz Felipe Scolari's appointment as their new manager. In light of bitter complaints from the Portuguese Football Federation president, Gilberto Madail, Chelsea were again forced to defend their behaviour.

Deco is close to agreeing personal terms with Chelsea but there is still a wrangle over the fee being demanded by Barcelona. The Spanish club want €20m (£16.7m) for the midfielder even though they have declared he can leave and the Portuguese international turns 31 in August.